Lost In Memory Featured, Reviews Film Threat
In the science fiction short film Lost in Memory, writer-director Hindole H-Shihan meditates on the function of memory and technology, starting with a close-up shot of a computer chip embedded in someone’s neck. there. That person turns out to be Raphael (Ishtvan Nekrasov), a depressed young man, grieving the loss of his girlfriend, Carly (Fiona Arena). He listens to a voicemail from someone who is worried about him and who sent Raphael a birthday gift supposedly to get him to talk to Carly again. This gift is an advanced eyeglasses capable of bringing memories to life through 3D voice and memory reproduction. High-end glasses are popular products sold at high prices. How much would you pay to see your loved one again? When Raphaël put on his glasses, he saw Carly sitting in front of him. Both subjects are framed in medium close-up and surrounded by soft lighting. Their reunion is not natural, the camera is a bit disjointed. Raphael gets agitated when he sees Carly’s reenactment on the show. She looked and sounded exactly like he remembered her. Ishtvan Nekrasov increases his breathing and anxiety to show that Raphael is overwhelmed by his emotions. Raphaël stood up from his chair and dropped his glasses. This happened too quickly without enough emphasis on placing Raphael in an animated environment. But the next scenes seem much more detailed, as production designer Leda Meintani features an ultra-modern apartment space with sleek curtains and bookshelves.
When Raphael tried to repeat the process, his memories flooded him. The filmmaker cuts through memories with whips and subtle lighting to distinguish reality from fantasy. When Raphaël wears glasses, the world is brighter than the bleak yellow of reality. Our memories aren’t always accurate, but they’re rooted in emotion. These specific moments that we remember can be rooted in positivity or negativity. Either way, memory can function as a device to chew over past experiences. But H-Shihan is more concerned about commenting on the deceptive nature of technology and how it can cause emotional hurdles for those struggling to heal. For Raphael, remembering is not enough; therefore, he seeks solace in an artificial program. But Raphael likely won’t be able to move on if he continues to rely on the program. So, there is a gnawing fear concerning how companies and consumers respond to advances in technology and how far corporations will go for profit. Only spanning eight minutes, you won’t be lost in memory for long, but your time spent in this strange virtual world alongside a grieving protagonist is enough to have you question whether you would do the same.